Monster truffle could be a Qld record-breaker

A BEHEMOTH truffle has just been unearthed in our backyard, with grower Matthew Hibberd confident it has smashed Queensland records.

The 505-gram fungus is a rarity, with Mr Hibberd saying it's unlikely they'll see one that big again.

"I just spent two days in Canberra at some truffle hunts and they said a 300-gram truffle is quite significant,” the Truffle Discovery Centre Stanthorpe owner said.

"Definitely the largest I think the Queensland region has ever produced and probably going to be.

"It was an early season truffle too, which is quite unusual. Normally they take a bit of time to grow and ripen.”

Previously, a 200g truffle was the largest he'd discovered and he puts his latest find down to a little luck and magic.

"They grow naturally through summer and autumn and that particular location had the right growing conditions and a lot of luck. There's not a lot to it - it's just magic really.”

With an estimated worth of up to $2000 or more, he's not sure what to do with it.

"It's on display at the moment but probably needs to be chopped up very shortly so I think a lot of truffle scrambled eggs will be on the menu at my place shortly. It'll also go into our truffle oil and honey.”

Truffle lovers can celebrate all that is truffles on August 5 at Queensland's first truffle festival, Tartufo, being organised by Mr Hibberd.

"Tickets are starting to sell really well. There's definitely a lot of foodie interest. There's a real mystique to the truffle.”